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To propagate Russian sage from cuttings, choose a healthy, mature plant and take several cuttings that are each about four inches long, using a clean pair of pruning shears. Make your cuts just above a leaf node. Strip off all of the leaves except for a few at the tip of each cutting. Remove any buds or flowers.
Can you root Russian sage cuttings in water?
Harvest soft wood cuttings from your Russian sage in the late spring or early summer with a clean garden knife or secateurs. Make a fresh cut on the bottom end if the woody cutting, immediately dip it in water and then into rooting hormone powder so that the bottom inch or so is coated.
How do you propagate a Russian sage plant?
Remove the top half of the stems if the plant stops blooming in summer. This encourages new growth and a fresh flush of flowers. Propagate Russian sage plants by dividing the clumps or taking cuttings in spring. Dividing the clumps every four to six years reinvigorates the plants and helps to control their spread.
How do you divide Russian sage?
Lift the clump of Russian sage from the ground, and shake the plant gently to remove excess soil. Divide the clump into smaller sections, teasing the roots apart carefully with your fingers. Each division should be large enough to have four or five shoots, and each shoot should have several healthy roots.
Can Russian sage be started from cuttings?
Russian sage can be started from seed, from stem cuttings, or by dividing mature plants. You can also transplant seedlings or nursery plants into the garden. Established plants will self-sow and sometimes spread via underground rhizomes as well, under ideal conditions.
Can Russian sage be propagated from cuttings?
Cuttings can be successfully rooted by sticking them directly into liner trays containing a pre-moistened, well-drained growing medium. Rooting compounds are not necessary as perovskia will root well without them. Russian sage prefers to be propagated using high humidity over misting.
Does Russian sage spread?
Spacing: Space Russian sage 24” apart at planting time to allow for the eventual wide growth of the plant. Russian sage is a slow grower and does not spread, creating a woody structure of stems at the base of the plant.
Can Russian sage be grown in pots?
Russian sage (Perovskia) is a very good plant for containers, especially large ones. Its elegant spikes of light lavender-blue flowers provide an airy contrast to perennials, annuals and small shrubs through the summer and into fall, while its pungent gray foliage is attractive for many months.
Is Russian sage the same as lavender?
Lavender and Russian Sage are separate species that come from different Genus. The easiest way to tell the difference between them is to examine the flowers. Russian Sage has a tubular flower that is characteristic of the saliva genus, whereas Lavender does not, see images below.
Can you clone Russian sage?
Russian sage will root from hardwood cuttings as well. It is treated as a perennial but is really a subshrub. Branches will turn into hardwood in the fall and those branches can be used to make cuttings over the winter.
How fast does Russian sage grow?
Russian Sage Growing Tips Germination can take up to four months. In the meantime, you will need to keep the seeds continually moist and warm. Once they do germinate, it can be a few years before they are large enough to begin flowering. However, it is an option and a good way to get a lot of inexpensive plants.
Should Russian sage be cut back?
At the end of the flowering season in cold regions, when flowers have faded and a killing frost has occurred, clip Russian sage stems back to 18 inches. Or skip this pruning and leave stems intact through winter to add interest to winter garden scenery.
Does Russian sage reseed itself?
Russian sage frequently self-seeds in the garden, enabling new plants to spring up. It is also sometimes possible to obtain new plants from root cuttings, which should be at least the diameter of a pencil, taken in early spring or late winter.
Why is my Russian sage falling over?
Russian sage can flop in mid-season, once it has attained the bulk of its normal height. Partial sun conditions can cause the plant to “stretch” a bit, looking for the sun. Such excessive growth can cause the stems to become top-heavy, and then flop. The plants like a full day of sun when they can get it.
What is Russian sage good for?
A perennial plant with purple flowers, Russian sage not only looks great in a garden, but it also has a variety of medicinal benefits. Steep sage leaves in hot water for 15-30 minutes to create a medicinal tea that can help relieve stomach pain and indigestion. Tea made from Russian sage can also help break a fever.
Can you grow Russian sage indoors?
You can also plant them later in the summer as long as you get them in the ground six weeks before a hard frost. If you are growing a Russian sage plant from seed, start indoors in early spring and transplant the seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
How do you collect Russian sage seeds?
Harvest seeds: Collecting sage seeds is surprisingly simple! The seeds grow in bell-shaped flowers along the sage stem. They are fairly large and can be easily seen in the plant. Once the seeds turn dark and flowers begin to turn brown, cut the flower stalk and place upside down in a paper bag.
Where is Russian sage native to?
Perovskia (pronounced “per-OFF-skee-uh”) is native to Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.) and Tibet at elevations to 8,000 ft. The sage reference probably comes from the characteristic sage aroma given off when the leaves are crushed. Russian sage has been in cultivation since the mid-1800’s.
